Editors at the Guardian Weekend magazine have been investigating the modern phenomenon of self-taken portraits posted online, and they invited celebrities to take part to highlight the wide reach of the obsession.

Dozens of stars obliged by snapping themselves in an unusual location and submitting the image for the feature - with some weird and wonderful results.

Gervais pulls a scary face while lying in a bath, Harrelson's shot shows the back of his head reflected in a mirror, and veteran actor Hurt is staring blankly ahead in the front seat of a car.

However, there was one star who refused to take part and gave the magazine editors a piece of her mind instead - British actress Sheila Hancock writes, "I hate people who take pictures of themselves and have no intention of becoming one of them. I abhor the way people look at life through a lens. You shouldn't encourage it in any way. What has happened to The Guardian?"